Tap or nipple for earthenware containers.



G. HENDERSON.

TAP 0R NIPPLE FOR EARTHENWABE OONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1912.

1,043,230,, 7 Patented N0v.5, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANnaRAPI-l CQJVASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED fiiATEfi PATENT @FFIQE.

GEORGE HENDERSON, OIE DOB-CHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TAP OR NIPPLE FOR EARTHENWARE CONTAINERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon HENDERSON, of Dorchester, in the county ofSufiolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Taps or Nipples for Earthenware Containers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that sort of device which is provided withoutwardly movable gripping fingers adapted to engage the interior of thereceptacle upon which the tap or nipple is used and it has been thespecial object of my invention to make such a device in a formparticularly adapted for use upon earthenware containers where thegripping means must have the widest possible bearing surface in orderthat the earthenware may not be broken by the pressure thereof.

My invention may be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing in which Figure 1 shows in elevation an earthenware foot warmerprovided with my device. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of thedevice with the gripping fingers out of operative position and thescrew-cap removed. Fig. '3 is a vertical cross-section of the devicewith the gripping fingers in operative posi t-ion. Fig. 4 is a top viewof the device as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the deviceas shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, A is an earthenwarecontainer in the only opening of which is inserted the nipple B. Acrossthe lower portion of the nipple B is a rod C, upon which are slidablymounted the gripping fingers D, D by means of the perforated lugs d, (P.It will be seen that the gripping fingers D, D when out of operativeposition so that the device may be inserted in the container A, by thisconstruction, are permitted to be of semicircular design and to fill theentire base of the nipple B, thereby insuring the largest possiblebearing upon the interior of the container A when they have been spreadradially as in Fig. 3. When the gripping fingers D, D have thus beenspread radially by pressing apart the upwardly extending Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed January 2, 1912.

Serial No. 669,039.

lugs (Z, (Z the metal washer E is screwed down upon the threadedexterior of the nipple B until it contacts with the rubber gasket e, andlifts the nipple B to such an ex tent that the gripping fingers D, D arebrought firmly to bear upon the interior of the container A, thusenabling a firm frictional contact to be provided between the washer Eand the gasket 6, thereby establishing a water-tight joint.

It is apparent that by reason of the bearing of the upwardly extendinglugs (Z, (Z upon the side ofthe nipple B, when they are in operativeposition, the gripping fingers D, D are more securely held against anymovement which would tend to cause a cracking or a crumbling of theearthenware container A. Moreover, since no part of the nipple Bprojects below the opening in the container A it is possible to emptycompletely the container A.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim is 1. In a deviceof the character specified a nipple, a rod fixed transversely in saidnipple, gripping fingers, lugs on said gripping fingers whereby saidgripping fingers are slidably mounted on said rod, said lugs beingadapted to engage the inner surface of said nipple, substantially as andfor the purposes specified.

2. In a device of the character specified, a nipple open from end toend, a rod extending transversely across the opening in the nipple andsecured at its ends to the nipple, gripping fingers slidably mountedupon the rod and having inner portions located below the lower end ofthe nipple, the combined areas of the said inner portions of the fingersbeing approximately equal to the external transverse area of the nipple.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE HENDERSON.

Witnesses DANFORTI-I W. CoMINs, JOHN MULLEN.

Gop'ies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

